Many seniors age in place as lull in the housing market continues
November 9, 2011
In the past, once seniors reached retirement, they tended to move to warmer destinations like Florida, Arizona or anywhere else across the country with perfect weather. However, with a continued lull in the economy, more seniors seem to be staying put, The Daily Local[1] reports.
Bill Yandell, a realtor for more than 25 years, told the publication that the housing market is still in shambles, making seniors more reserved about packing up and relocating. Many feel that putting their homes on the market would force them to take the best offer, even if it’s much less than what the house is actually worth. Others feel that they should keep their homes, as many seniors have already paid them off in full.
Many instead chose to update their homes to fit their unique needs as they age. This can include revamping bathrooms to be handicap accessible through adding a new bathtub or putting in slip-grip handrails to avoid falls. Some might also install a medical alert system into their homes as added protection. This way if they do fall while aging in place, they can have the reassurance that help is just the push of a button away.
